THE country's only indoor human cannonball is wowing audiences at a circus visiting Worcester.

Brazilian Diego Marakova last night flew 40ft at a speed reaching 60mph during the Cottle and Austen Combined Circus, based at Pitchcroft.

The 30-person two-hour spectacular is the largest touring circus in the country, featuring a variety of talents from across the world, including Portugal, Russia, Mongolia and Kenya.

"It is scary, but I enjoy it," said Diego, who has just returned from a space centre in his homeland where he received G-force conditioning.

"It is very dangerous and requires a lot of training to keep strength in the lower body. If you're not completely ready you can crumple badly," added Marnie Dock, the former human cannonball who fires Diego. She said the show is a modern twist on the traditional circus with a band, dancers and singers featuring alongside clowns, jugglers and flying trapeze artists. "Adults often leave the end of the show saying they only came because of the children but enjoyed it themselves. It is aimed at everyone," she added.

Titto Lester, a clown from Portugal, said he was never going to go into any other profession after being born into two generations of clowns.

"I woke up and saw people calling for my father and started to enjoy it. I knew the technique and was learning all the time," said the 46-year-old whose father, aged 73, is still working in a circus in Spain.

Performances take place at 5pm and 7.45pm until Friday and at 2pm and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets range from £8 to £20 for adults, £6 to £15 for concessions. Tickets can be booked on 07030 170170, with some available on the door half-an-hour before performances start.